Heavy metal and trace element bioaccumulation in target tissues of three edible predatory fish species from Bovan Reservoir (Serbia)

Abstract

Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca), catfish (Silurus glanis) and pike (Esox lucius) were collected from the Bovan Reservoir (Southeast Serbia), and samples of muscle, liver and gills were analyzed for Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr and Mn using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to highlight the importance of predatory species and tissue selection in monitoring research, and studies of potential impact of contaminated fish consumption on human health. The element levels in fish varied considerably among tissues in all three species (p <0.05), except Pb in catfish and Cd in pike. However, element levels in muscle tissue were generally lower than in the liver and gills. In the present study, the highest levels of Pb (145.35 mg kg-1) and Cd (0.031 mg kg-1) were observed in pikeperch liver, and that of Cr (0.069 mg kg-1) was observed in gills of pikeperch, while the highest levels of Zn and Mn were in gills of pike (110.29 and 1.86 mg kg-1, respectively) and that of Cu was in liver of pike (6.29 mg kg-1). Mercury was the only element that was accumulated in highest levels in muscle tissue in all three species (0.341, 0.253 and 0.234 mg kg-1 for pike, pikeperch and catfish, respectively). The BCF showed that Pb and Zn were the most readily absorbed ones by fish. Liver had the highest affinity for bioconcentrations of Cu, Cd, and Zn, gills for Cr, Mn, and Pb, whereas muscle had the highest affinity for the bioconcentration of Hg. According to results in this study, all three predatory fish species can equally be used in monitoring of metal-polluted waters. None of the elements in fish muscle exceeded the maximum permitted concentrations (MPC) established by national legislation and the European Union. However, since Zn levels were above MPC in gills of pike, and Pb levels were above MPC in gills and liver of pike and pikeperch, the consumption of these parts of these fishes can be potentially hazardous for humans and should be excluded from the diet.